Tube-forming machine



J. D. REIFSNYDER TUBE FORMING MACHINE Filed August 6, 1924 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 2 n v i 51,.4 M '1 A'IIORNEY5 Feb. 16 1926. 1,573,573

' J. D. REIFSNYDER TUBE FORMING MACHINE Filed-August 6, 1924 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Illll 'mlllllll H mmmlni'iin l u llll mun BIHH INVENTOR ATTORNEYS J. D. REIFSNYDER TUBE FORMING MACHINE Filed August 6, 1924 Feb. 16 1926- llIIHlllllllHlllnlllllln 4., ATTORNEY 5 Feb. 16 {1926. 1,573,573 J. D. REIFSNYDER TUBE FORMING momma Filed August 6, .1924 -g sh et -shaet 4 J. D. REIFSNYDER TUBE FORMING MACHINE Filed August 6. 1924 9 Sheets-Sheet S Feb. 16,1926. 1,513,573

1 2 '74 \5171 '1 3i magpflmm I A ATTORNEYS Feb, 16 1926.

J. D. REIFSNYDER TUBE FORMING MACHINE Filed August 6) QtSheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR .9.

BY r M ."4 Y M A. A'ITORNEYJ Feb. 16 1926.

J. D. REIFSNYDER TUBE FORMING MACHINE Filed August 6. 1924 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 EN NQ INVENTOR y-M Z ATTORNEYS J. D. REIFSNYDER v TUBE FORMING MACHINE V Q-SheetS-Sheet 8 Filed August 6. 1924 Feb. 16 1926.

rnmmwmm "Hum INVENTOR i BY M I'I'I'ORNEY?) Y Feb. 16,1926. 1,573,513

J. D. REIFSNYDER TUBE FORMING MACHINE Filed August 6, 1924 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR W :3-

n 4 4 ATTORNEYS their individual centers.

means, to be more fully described later, feed Patented Feb. 16, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1,513,573 PATENT OFFICE.

TAKES D. BEII'SNYDER, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, .AfiSIGNOR TO TULIP CONTAINER CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A COBPOBATION OF NEW YORK.

. TUBE-FORMDIG mncztnm.

Application filed August 6, 1924. Serial m5. 730,373.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JAMES D. REI'FSNYDER,

a citizen of the United States, and resident of the city' of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tube-Forming Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tube forming machines, and more particularly to machines for forming tubes which are to form the wall portions of containers.

An object of the invention is to provide an eiiicient and durable machine capable of rapidly producing tubes of such. uniformity in size and finish as may be used in automatic assembling machines for forming containers.

Before taking up a detailed description of the machine, a general description will be given setting forth some of the most important features in a general way. "A continuously rotating mandrel carrying spider is supported on a suitable base and driven by a drive shaft connected to a .source of power through a clutch. A plurality of individually rotatable mandrels are mounted on this carrier and are moved past a feed station and successively rotated as they pass the. feed station to .wind paper blanks thereon to form tubes. It will therefore be seen that the mandrels collectively are moved continuously about a common center; and successively are moved intermittently about Suitable feeding the blanks to these mandrels and suction means connected to the mandrels hold the blanks 'thereon. Means is provided for connecting the suction means to the mandrels successively in such a manner that the suction pump will have a minimum load. Suitable means are provided for properly positioning the mandrels prior. to and subsequent to the-winding operation, and gulde means is 1 provided for successively cooperating with each ma guide the blanks being ing the preferred form of the invention,

'and the invention will be more particularly in which the same reference characters indicate the same parts in the various views Fig. 1 is a plan view of the machine partly in section on line 11 of Fig. 2 and havingv certain other parts: broken away.

Fig. 2 illustrates an elevation taken from the rear of the machine, with, the feed table, for convenience of illustration, distorted from its true perspective position to a position in the plane of the machine proper.

Fig. 3 is a section taken. on line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and showing the ejector cam and operating mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 44 of Fig. 2 showing the ejector operating mechanism in detail.

Fig. '5 is a section through Fig. 2'at- 5 and shows the hub port construction for successively connecting the vacuum means to the respective mandrels.

Fig. 6 is a section through Fig. 2 at 6-6 ShOWlIl" further details. i

Fig. is a section through Fig. 6 at 7 -7.

- Fig. 8 is an enlarged portion of the mandrel carrier and correlated parts adjacent the feeding position.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional throughone of the mandrels.

Fig. 10 is a section through 9 at view Fig. 11 is a section through Fig. 9 at 11-11.

Fig. 12 is a section through Fig. 9 at 12 12.

Fig. 13 'is a section through Fig. 10 at Fig. 14 is a plan view of-the feeding table together with partsrelated thereto'and a portion of the winding machine proper including one mandrel.

Fig. 15 is a rear elevation of Fig. 14 with thereIatiVe position of some parts adjacent the are "15-15 distorted to avoid the confusion of a perspective view. .In other Words this viewis'a true elevation of parts Q not on the are 15 and such parts as are on the are 15 appear in elevation of the are 1515 in development.

Fig. 16 is a section through Fig. 14 at line 1616-16.

Fig. 17 is a section through Fig. 14 at 1717, and

Fig. 18 is a section through Fig. 14 at 18-18.

M andrel carrier.

Referring to .the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, 1 indicates the spider or rotatable carrier which is pinned or keyed to an axle 2 supported by a base 3 and journaled free to rotate therein. A worm wheel 4 is fastened to axle 2 by any suitable means such as a pin or key and is in driven engagement with a driving worm .5 which is suitably attached to the driving shaft 6. A clutch pulley 7 is belted to a suitable source of power (not shown) and is operated by a clutch lever 8 connected through suitable levers 9 and 10 to the clutch yoke 11. The clutch lever extends to the front of the machine and by this intermediary the operator can control the operation of the main drive shaft 6. When this drive shaft is rotating the carrier 1 is made to rotate continuously.

Mandrcls and winding means.

Mounted on the carrier 1 in suitable bearings, and free to rotate with respect thereto, are a plurality of mandrels 12. A spur gear 13 and a cam 14, carrying dwell portions 14 and 14", are rotatably attached to each mandrel. Segmental gear racks 15 and 16, and tracks 17 and 18 are mounted adjacent and with fixed relation to the rotatable carrier 1. These gear racks, and tracks, are supported by arms 19 extending radially from and carried by a hub 20 (see also Fig. 5) which is stationary with respect to the carrier 1 and its axle 2.

Ejection means.

Each mandrel carries an ejector 21 (see Figs. 9 and 11) which is preferably made in the form of a spider having three equidistantly spaced leg portions slidably mounted in slots 22 and adapted to be slidably moved within and with respect to said mandrel, axially thereof. The ejector 21 has a hub and stem 23 projecting therefrom supported in a portion of the mandrel and movable axially within a bore 24. A compression coil spring 25 is positioned within bore 24 and abuts against the end of the stem 23 at one end and surrounds a plunger pin 26 carrying a shoulder 27 a ainst which the other end abuts. This pin 26 and spring 25 together form means to move said ejector. The ejector 21 is supported on a centering guide pin 28 pivoted in a central inwardly projecting boss 29 which is a part of the mandrel. Guide pin 28 extends within a bore 30 in the ejector stem, and a compression coil spring 31 is positioned between the ejector 21 and the boss 29 to restore the ejector to its normal position'after the plunger pin 26 has moved it to eject a formed tube, as will be hereinafter described more fully. Means for operating plunger pin 26 will now be described, with particular reference to Figs. 2, 3 and 4. Mounted adjacent the periphery at the bottom of the carrier 1 and attached to a stationary part 32, forming a part of the general supporting base 3, is a bracket 34 (Fig. 4) within which is slidably mounted a ram member 35 with a head or hammer portion 36. A lug 37 is attached to this ram by any suitable means such as a set screw, and a compression coil spring 38 surrounding the ram 35 is held between this lug 37 and one end of the bracket 34 so that as the ram 35 is moved to the left this spring is compressed. A lug 39 is attached to a portion of the ram 35 and this member is normally held to the right by means of atension coil spring 40 one end of which is attached to lug 39 and the other end to a stationary member such as the track part 18 supported by the arms 19. A link 41 connects lug 39 to a cam lever 42 pivoted to a bracket 43 which is attached to the base 3. The cam lever 42 carries a cam 44 adjustably attached thereto by means of bolts 45 extending through slots 46 in said cam member. This cam is positioned in the path of travel of the spokes of carrier 1 and is operated by each spoke successively as the carrier is rotated, thereby moving the ram 35 back and compressing the spring 38. At this time one of the mandrels has moved so that pin 26 is opposite the retracted ram head 36. As the carrier continues to rotate and a spoke passes over the face of the cam the spring 38 drives the ram head 36 against the pin 26, compressing the spring 25 (Fig.

9) and moving the ejector to discharge the formed tube, at the same time compressing the spring 31 which thereafter returns the ejector to its normal position. All of which takes place on each. successive mandrel while they are continuously moved past the ram head 36. A buffer member of rubber or leather is placed on-bracket 34 (Fig. 4,:

to dissipate some of the shock when the 129 ram is released and the lug 39 moves toward the bracket 34.

Suction means.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 9, 5 and 8, means will now be described for holding the blanks to the mandrels while the blanks are being wound to form tubes. The mandrels 12 each have two main parts, a spindle portion and a forming portion. The 130 I and is held in position therein by means of the cam 14 and associated pin or other fastening means attaching thev cam to the spindle. The forming portion 48 is made with the outside cont-our of the general form desired according'to the tubes to be formed thereon; in this instance of the shape of a frustro conical section and tapering down toward the outer or free end. For convenience in manufacturing, the end piece 49, and a central portion 50' are made as separate pieces and are attached respectively by means of screws 51 and 52. The forming portion 48 is hollow and has a passage 53 lying within the outer shell and in communication with the atmosphere through apertures 54. This passage passes into member 50 connecting into an annular passage 55 which communicates with an annular passage 56 in the spindle 46 and thence to an enlarged annular passage 57 formed partly in the spindle and partly in the bearing portion 48 of the carrier 1. A pipe 58 connects each mandrel to a rotatable hub member 59, (Figs. 5 and 8) preferably integral with carrier 1. A suitable suction means, such as a vacuum pump indicatedas 60, is connected by a pipe 61 to the hubQO which i is relatively movable with respect to hub 59. The hub 20 is made in two parts to facilitate. in machining, and these parts are united by means of machine screws 62' (Fi 7). A portion of hub 20 is recessed in hu 59 and an annular passage or cavity 63 is formed therebetween. A packing gasket 64, held in place by a packing ring 65 attached to hub 59 by screws 66, serves as a packing between the relatively rotating and stationary members 20 and 59 respectively.- A passage 67 (Figs. 5 and 6) connects the annular cavity 63 to the pipe 61 attached to the pump 60. Plunger members 68 which extend the width of the annular cavity 63, are

positioned in recesses 69 and compression springs 70 hold these plungers 68 outwardly, against the rotating hub 59, thereby separating the annular cavity into two chambers. The plungers are so positioned that one of these chambers, designated at 63 is open to only one of'the pipes 58 leading to a single mandrel and to the passage 67 leading to the pump 60; while the other chamber 63" is open to the other pipes 58 leading to the remaining mandrels. The plungers 68 are .so positioned in the hub 20 that the chamber 63' will be in communication with the mandrel being wound, thereby applying suction to that mandrel alone.

Atany time the mandrels'may be divided into four groups, i; e. the mandrel being wound, the mandrels on which wound tubes are setting, the mandrel from which a finished tube is being ejected and the mandrels from which the tubes have been ejected. Therefore at any time at least one mandrel is'uncovered and the apertures in this mandrel are open to-the atmosphere. Then since all the mandrels except the one being wound are connected with eaclr other, through chamber 63", and since one is open to the atmosphere, all of the mandrels except the one being wound will open to the atmosphere at the time when that one is being wound. This is important and greatly desirable for two main reasons; first it relieves the pump from the extra and unnecessary load of creating .a' partial vacuum in all of the mandrels, and second, it relieves the suc tion on the formed tubes at' the time they are being ejected. If desirable a small relief hole may be drilled through the stationary hub 20 connecting the chamber 63" to the atmosphere, but this is not necessary since the atmosphere is admitted by way of the apertures 54 in the uncovered mandrel.

Form rollers and seam presser.

. When the blanks are being wound on each mandrel it is essential to hold the blanks against the mandrel while the latter rotates in a manner that will assist in forming the tubes. It is also advisable to press the seam or end of the blank forming the outer layer of the tube for a short time after the blank is wound, so that the adhesive used between the convolutions of the blank may set. For this purpose the following combined presser and former is provided adjacent each mandrel (see Figs. 8, 10, and 11). An arm 71 is (pivoted on a, stud 72, projecting from an act as guides for the axle; Therollers .74

are adapted to engage the surface of the mandrel and are spring pressed thereag'ainst in substantially a'radial direction. A seam pressing member such as a brush 79 extends arallel with the surface ofthe mandrel and 1s attached to arm 71 by any suitable means such as screws 80. The bristles of the'brush are set substantially radial with respect to the mandrel and engage the surface of the mandrel. A wrap spring or torsion spring 81 holds the brush and rollers toward the mandrel, and in normal position thereby presses the bristles and rollers toward the mandrel, the springs 77 acting as additional means to hold the rollers toward the mandrel.

A limit stud 82, attached to 71,' passes through a stop 83 (Fig. 8) integral with the carrier 1, and a nut 84 threaded on the stud 82 is adapted to abut against this stop and thereby limit the movement of the arm toward the mandrel. A cam roller 88'-is mounted on the other end of the arm 71 opposite to the brush and rollers 74:. This camroller is adapted to engage a cam plate 84 (Figs. 8 and 1) which is adjustably attached to a bracket 85 carried by the feed table and positioned adjacent the feed station, and a cam plate 86 (Fig. 1) which is attached to a bracket 87 carried by a stationary part such as base 3, is positioned adjacent the ejecting station. These cam plates are adapted to inoperatively position the form rollers and seam presser at the feeding and ejecting stations respectively. The function of these parts will be described more fully with respect to their place in the cycle of operation under the description of operation.

Guide means.

In machines where conical or tapered tubes are to be wound great difficulty has been experienced in keeping the blanks from running or creeping toward the small end of the mandrel as they are being wound. In the past this has usually been taken care of by using trimming knives to cut off the portion which ran over the small end of the mandrel. In the present invention this has been eliminated in a most satisfactory manner and to such an extent that the tube ends are even and smooth and the tubes so accurately formed that they are ready for use as they are delivered from the machine. To obtain this result I have provided a guide means which is adapted to engage each successive mandrel as it is moved past the feeding station and are successively rotated to wind the blanks thereon to form tubes. This guide is resiliently held against and moved With each mandrel during the successive rotations of the mandrels adjacent the feeding station, and will now be described in detail. As has already been stated Fig. 2 shows the feeding table and mandrel units somewhat distorted from their true relative position. It will be noted that on this account certain parts between these units and'connected to both units are shown dotted and in full. The parts are therefore shown in their relative position to each unit and the intervening distance between the dotted and full line parts represents theamount that these adj acent parts have been distorted in this view. Bythis method these parts have been shown in'their true relative position with respect to each unit. An arm 88 is pivotally mounted on the end of the axle 2 (Fig. 1) and yieldable axially thereon by means of a tor sion compression coil spring 89, retaining washer 90 and bolt 91. On the end of arm 88, and preferably forming a part thereof, is a shoe or guide surface 92 (see also Figs. 2 and 14) which extends in a vertical direction and the surface of which lies adjacent to and at right angles with the mandrels as they successively reach this point. In

order to move this guide with each successive mandrel during the time when they are winding the blanks the following mechanism is provided. A link 93 is attached at its upper end (Fig. 16) to the guide arm 88 by means of a pin 94 and at its lower end to a clamp block 95. This clamp block is fastened to a sliding bar 96 by means of a set screw or other suitable means and the slide bar is mounted in the bracket at its upper end and the bracket 97 at its lower end and adapted to slide Vertically in these supports. A second clamp block 98 is attached to bar 96 and is in turn pivotally connected to a link 99 which is pivotally connected to a bell-crank 100 pivoted on a stud 101 attached to the feed table support. A link 102 connects this bell-crank with acrank 103 fastened on shaft 104 by means of a set screw 105. This shaft is supported by brackets 106106 (Fig. 2) attached to the feed table supports, and carries attached to its other end by suitable means a crank 107 which is connected to a cam rod 108. This cam rod carries a cam roller 109 which is adapted to engage a cam 110 fastened on the cam shaft 111, journaled in the brackets 112 and 113 attached to the feed table 114, and which is driven from the main shaft 6 by means of the bevel gears 115 and 116 (Fig. 1). The upper end of this cam rod is slotted or forked (Fig. 17) and is in engagement with the shaft 111 thereby acting as a guide means. It is then obvious that as the drive shaft 6 rotates this cam will rotate; and it is so formed and positioned, that the guide face 92 will be moved up about its pivot point axle 2 with each successive mandrel as it is rotated to wind a blank, and as soon as the blank is wound the guide face 92 will quickly drop back to meet the next succeeding mandrel and so on. The carrier 1, if the made of cast iron, will sometimes warp With seasoning and this will tend to throw the ends of the mandrels somewhat out of alignment in a given plane. If the guide were absolutely rigid there would then be a space between the guide face 92 and the outer end of one Or more of the mandrels. However, since the guide is mounted free to yield axially of the axle 2, by compressing the spring 89, this slight variation is taken care of. Instead of the spring 89 allowing this movement the guide arm 88 might be made flexible and the pivoted end of the guide.

' Blank feeding means.

The feeding table and apparatus for applying adhesive to the paper are formed as a more or less separate unit and are supported ona table 114 as will be more fully described following. Before taking up the structural-details a brief description will be iven of the feeding and adhesive applying apparatus. Paper blanks are placed on the feeding table by hand.- They are moved axially of and above an adhesive applying roll which is rotatably supported in an adhesive or glue tank by Suitable mechanism but prevented from'engagingthe upper sur-' face of the roll by a supporting finger. They are then fed transversely of the roll by a feed shoe until the end passes over the winding mandrel and is sucked thereagainst by the suction means. The mandrel rotates to wind the tube. A presser plate frictionally engages the blank on the top side and serves to keep it taut while being wound: at the same time the supporting finger recedes downwardly and the rear end of the blank is pulled across the upper surface of the glue roll which is preferably positively driven at approximately the same peripheral speed as the peripheral speed of the mandrel. A second presser member holds the blank in positive engagement with the glue roll at the time when the adhesive is being applied. The mechanism for operating the various elements associated with the feed table will now be described detail. In the preferred embodiment the table is adapted to feed blanks cut to bewound on tapered mandrels and they will therefore be fed on,an' arc. .The feed table support'114 carries a top portion 117 to which are attached four spacing posts 118 (Figs. 16, 17 and 18) -which carry the'table top 119. This table proxiniating the taper of the mandrel (Fig.

' 119 has a slightly raised portion 120 angularly inclined in section to a degree ap- 18) and curved in plan (Fig. 14) to fit the shape of the blanks. In front of this raised portion and slightly elevated above it are a series of runway members 121 on which the blanks are to be placed by the operator.

' Fingers 122 are adapted to move the blanks forward to the raised portion 120. These fingers are carried by a cross piece 123 which is attached to a connecting link 124 (Figs.

land 14) which is connected to a link 125 pivoted to a cam arm 126 (Fig. 17) pivoted toabraoket 127 attached to the support 114 andcarryifig a cam roller 128. 'This cam roller is adapted to be operated by a cam 129 mounted on and driven by the cam shaft 111 in such timed relation that the blank will be fed onto the raised portion 120 as will be more fully explained under operation. A tension spring 130 (Fig 15) holds the cam roller against the surface of the cam 129. A finger 131 (Figs. 14 and 17) I I portion to a supporting bearing 134. The

other end of the lever 133 is connected to a cam rod 135(Fig. 17) which has a forked end slidably engaging shaft 111 and carries a cam roller 136 resting on cam 137 attached to and rotatable with shaft 111 so that as this shaft rotates the cam will move the rod 135 up and down to,operate the finger 131 up and down insuch a manner that the blank will be held up from engagement with the roll until it is desired to apply the adhesive. A tension spring 138 acts to hold the cam roller seated on the surface of cam 137. A shoe 1-39 (Fig. 14) is mounted in an arc'uate slot 140 formed in a portion integral with table 119 and is adapted to be reeiprocated therein by means of a link 141 connected to one end of a cam lever 142 pivotally supported at its mid-point by a bracket 143 attached to the table 117 and carrying at its other end a cam roller 144 held in engagement with a cam surface, formed/on a cam'145, by means of a tension spring 146. The cam 145 is attached to and rotatable with the cam shaft 111 and so positioned with' respect thereto that it- -will cause the feeding shoe 139 to move forward, in such timed relation with 'the manwhieh-is carried by a sleeve 150, is positioned over portion 120 of the table 119 in front of the feed shoe 139 (Fig. 14). This sleeve is slidably mounted on a vertical post 151 which is connected to a cam lever 152 which is pivotally mounted, at itsmid-point, ona

bracket 153 carried by thetable 119.- Attached to the other end of the lever 152 isa cam rod 154 with aforked or slotted end engaging the shaft 111 and actingas a guide. A cam roller 155 is attached to the rod 154 and is held on the cam 156 by means of a tensionv spring 157 attached to the lever 152 and the bracket-153. The cam 156 is attached to and driven by the cam shaft 111 and operates in such timed relation with the mandrel at the feeding station that the presser'plate is pushed down against the blank only after the blank is being pulled forward by the winding mandrel. thereby putting the blank under slight tension to prevent it from overrunning as it is wound.

A receptacle such as glue pan 158 for holding glue or other adhesive to be applied to the blanks is mounted beneath the table. 119 (Fig. .17) and supported on clamps 159 atdrel, that the blank will be pushed forward 1 ply as required. A glue roll 160 is mounted on and driven by a shaft 161 journaled in the table top at One end and a portion of bracket 134 at the other end. A gear 162 is attached to this shaft by a pin or other suitable means and is in mesh with and driven by intermediate gear 163 (Fig. 14) pinned to a shaft 164 carried in a bracket 165, and which is driven in turn by a gear 166 attached to the shaft 111 furnishing thereby a means for driving the glue roll continuously during the operation of the machine. The bottoni'of the glue roll is positioned within the pan and is adapted to dip into the glue or other adhesive-167 contained therein: while the top of the roll projects upwardly through a slot in the table 119 and is raised above the portion 120. A suitable wiping member (not shown) is'positioned adjacent the glue roll at a point beneath the table 119 and serves to wipe the excess adhesive picked up from the glue pan. A second presser finger 168 (Figs. 14 and 16) is mounted above the glue roll and has a concave bottom surface similar in contour to the surface of the glue roll and adapted to press the paper blank' into intimate contact with the glue roll. This presser finger isvattached to an arm 169 connected to a crank arm 1.70 carried by and pinned to a shaft 171 journaled in the bracket 165. A lever arm 172 is pinned to the other end of the shaft 171 and connected to a cam rod 173 which has connected near its other end a lever arm 174 equal in length to the lever arm 172. This second lever arm 174 is pivoted to the lower portion of the bracket 165 (Figs. 16 and 15) so that the link 173 is restrained to a parallel up and down motion. A cam roller 175 is mounted on the lower end of the rod 173and is held against the cam 176 by means of a tension spring 177. The cam 17 6 is mounted on and driven by the shaft 111 and the cam surface so formed that the presser 168 is moved down to press the blank into engagement with the glue roll at the time when the blank has just reached the mandrel when at, the feeding station, and subsequent to the depression of the finger 131 (Fig. 14). A 'flap member 178 (Figs. 14 and 15) is pivoted to the table 119 adjacent the mandrel osition. This flap is provided for bridging t e space between the table 119 and the mandrel being moved past the same. A tension spring 179 attached to the table and to a heel portion of the flap tends to hold the flap down, while the heel portion is adapted to abut against the table to limit this down position of the flap. As the mandrels are successively rotated up past the table the flap is engaged by them, thereby effectually bridging the space between the mandrel and table and guiding the blank onto the mandrel and preventing the blank from falling between the table and mandrel. A suitable end stop 180 is provided against which the operator may push the blank to position it endwise before it is pulled forward by the fingers 122 (Fig. 14). This stop allows the blank 0pemtz'0nFeeding.

Blanks of paper or other suitable material are cut to the proper shape and size for the particular tubes to be formed and are placed in a stack on the table 119 (Fig. 14) as at 182. The operator then moves the control lever 8 (Fig. 2.) which starts the feed table and mandrels in motion as has been already-set forth. The blanks then are separately taken by the operator and placed onthe runway members 121 in front of the fingers 122 and up against the end stop 180, as indicated by the dotted lines and designated by 183 (Fig. 14). The fingers move forward and pull the blank over the track 120 the flap 1178, glue roll 160, and the finger 131, which is then down; under the pressers 147 and 168, and in front of theshoe 139. The fingers 122 are then moved back for another blank and during this interval the shoe 139 commences to push the blank forward so that the end nearest the mandrel is moved slightly forward until it is over the suction holes in the rising mandrel which at that instant is in position to wind the blank. The shoe is then moved back for the next blank, the finger 131 is depressed, the presser 147 is pressed down on the blank and the presser 168 holds the blank positively into intimate contact with the glue roll 160. At this time 'the mandrel suction means has taken hold of the end of the blank and the mandrel starts to rotate, pulling the blank on across the glue roll, to thereby apply adhesive to the rear portion of the blank. The adhesive roll is preferably driven at a peripheral speed equal to the peripheral speed of the mandrel so that there will be no tendency for the blank to pucker or drag and the presser 147 operates with only suflicient force to keep the blank from overrunning.

0pemtz'onWinding.

The control lever 8 (Fig. 2) having been moved to start the machine, the mandrel carrier is in continuous rotation and each mandrel is moved forward. As each mandrel moves forward the dwell 14" leaves the engages the gear segment 15 which rotates center.

' the mandrel to place the suction apertures uppermost, in position to receive the end ofthe blank to be wound. Just as this pinion 13 leaves the rack 15 the dwell 14 comes into engagement with the track 17 and thereby holds the mandrel in proper position to receive the end of theblanks. The cam roller 83 engages the cam plate 84 at this time and thereby raises the spring pressed arm 71 which lifts the rollers and brush clear of the mandrel, which is now ready to receive a blank. Atthis instant the suction pipe ""58 of the mandrel at the feeding station has moved opposite to and into communication with the chamber 63' (F ig.. 6) thereby connecting the apertures in this mandrel to the suction pump. The blanks are '"at this time fed forward as already described under Operation-Feed-' ing, and the end of the'blank is so positioned over the apertures in the mandrel that it is firmly sucked down-on and held against the mandrel. At this time the pinion 13 on the'mandrel stem has been moved into engagement with the rack segment 16 and the mandrel is thereby rotated about its As the mandrel starts to rotate the guide 92 (Fig. 2) is moved up with'it,.as has been described previously, thereby ecausing the blank to be wound evenly. After-the man-' drel has commenced to rotate, the cam roller 83 (Fig. 8) passes off the cam plate 84 and releases the spring pressed arm 71' thereby.

bringing the rollers 75 and brush 79 (Fig. 10) .down on'the blankbeing wound. As

the mandrel passeson, the"pinion 13passes' off the rack 16, and at this time the suction pipe 58' asses'out of'co'mmunication with the chem er'63 thereby releasing the suction on thenow wound blank. The brush 79 and rollers 7 5 are now the only agents holding the tube on the mandreland the-guide 92 has been moved'back to'the next succeeding mandrel, The dwell 1a" on theca-m 14 engages the track 18 and holds the mandrel in such position that the seam of the wound tube lies beneath the bristles of the brush The mandrel'moves on resser. around with the carrier 1 during which time the adhesive between the convolutions of the tube is'setting; y I I The cam roller 83' (Fig. 1) finall comes into engagement with the cam p ate 86, thereby releasing the seam presser and form rollers. The cam 44 (Fig. 3) is deflected by a spoke of the carrier and the ejector ram operated in the manner already described,

thereby ejecting the tube, and freeing the.

mandrel for a further winding operation. The apertures in themandrel traveling between this point and the winding )oint are open to the atmosphere, as previous y stated.

other changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spiritand scope of my invention, and I aim in the appended claims to cover such changes and modifications as are within the scope of the invention.

.l/Vhat I claim is:

1. In a tube forming machine, the combination of a continuously rotatable member, a plurality of rotatable mandrels carried by saidmember aiid adapted to be moved past a feeding station, means for rotating said mandrels to form tubes from paper blanks, a cam connected to each of said man'- drels to rotate therewith, a track on which the cams are adapted to move to hold their respective mandrels in proper registration to receive paper blanks, and a second track on which said cams are adapted to move to hold their respective mandrels in proper registration after said paper blanks are' wound thereon to form tubes.

2. In a tube forming machine, the combination of a continuously rotatable member, a plurality, of rotatable mandrels carried by said member and adapted to be moved past a feeding station and to be rotated to form tubes from paper blanks, a spur gear connected to .each of said mandrels to rotate therewith, a segmental gear rack adapted to engage said spur gears to successively intermittently rotate said mandrels into proper position to receive said blanks of paper, means for holding said mandrels in proper registration to receive paper blanks, an'd'a second segmental gear rack adapted to engage said spur gears to successively intermittently rotate said mandrels to wind said blanks thereon.

3. In a' tube forming machine, the combination of a continuously rotatable member, a plurality of rotatable mandrels carried by said member and adapted to be moved past a feeding station and to be rotated to form tubes from paper blanks, a cam and a spur gear rotatably connected to each of said mandrels, a segmental gear ,rack adaptedto engage said spur gears to rotate said mandrels successively into proper position to receive said paper blanks, a track on which said cams are adapted .to move to retain said mandrels in said receiving position, and a second segmental 'gear rack' adapted to engage said spur gears to rotate said mandrels successively to wind said blanks thereon to form tubes.

4. In a tube forming machine, the combination of a continuously rotatable member, a plurality of rotatable mandrels car- 70 art, after understanding my invention, that ried by said member and adapted to be.

moved past a feeding station and to be rotated to form tubes from paper blanks, a cam and a spur gear rotatably connected to each of said mandrels, a segmental gear rack adapted to engage said spur gears to rotate said mandrels successively into proper position to receive said paper blanks, a track on which said cams are adapted to 10 move to retain said mandrels in said receiving position, a second segmental gear rack adapted to engage said spur gears to rotate said mandrels successively to wind said blanks thereon to form tubes, and a second track portion on which said cams are adapted to move to hold said mandrels and tubes in proper position after said tubes have been formed from said blanks.

5. In a tube forming machine, the com- 0 bination ofa continuously rotatable member, a plurality of rotatable mandrels carried by said member and adapted to be moved past a feedingstation and to be rotated to form tubes from paper blanks, a spur gear rotatably connected to each of said mandrels, a segmental gear rack adapted to engage said spur gears to successively rotate said mandrels into proper position to receive said blanks of paper, a second segmental gear rack adapted to engage said spur gears to successively rotate said mandrels to wind said blanks thereon, a seam presser associated with each of said mandrels, and means for inoperatively positioning said pressers at a point prior to the *engagement of said spur gears with said first segmental rack.

6. In a tube forming machine, the combination of a continuously rotating carrier member, a plurality of successively rotating mandrels adapted to be moved past a feeding station and to wind paper blanks to form tubes, ejecting means associated with each mandrel and movable therewith, and

means operating'in timed relation with said rotating carrier to successively eject formed tubes from said mandrels.

7. In a tube forming machine, the combination of a continuously rotating carrier member, a plurality of successively rotatable mandrels adapted to be moved past a feeding station and to wind paper blanks to form tubes, ejecting means associated with each mandrel and movable therewith, means for 5 operating said ejectors including a ram member for engaging said ejectors, a spring for operating said ram, and means for compressing said spring and releasing the same in timed relation with said rotary carrier member to operate said ram to actuate said ejectors successively.

8. In a tube forming machine, the combination of a continuously rotatable membet, a plurality of rotatable mandrels car- 5 ried by said. member and adapted to be moved past a feeding station, a spur gear rotatably connected to each of said mandrels, a segmental gear rack adapted to engage said spur gears to successively rotate said mandrels into proper position to receive blanks of paper, a second segmental gear rack adapted to engage said spur gears to successively rotate said mandrels to wind said blanks thereon,a seam presser associated with each of said mandrels, means for inoperatively positioning said pressers at a point prior to the engagement of said spur gears with said first segmental rack, ejector means including fingers positioned within said mandrels, and means to operate said ejectors successively after the corresponding presser member has been made inoperative.

9. In a tube forming machine, the combination of a stationary member, a rotating member, a plurality of mandrels carried on said rotating member and adapted to rotate to form tubes from blanks of material, an ejector carried by each of said mandrels, means on said stationary member for operating said ejector, and means carried by said rotating member for engagement with said operating means to cont-r01 the same, whereby said ejectors may be successively operated to eject formed tubes from said mandrels.

10. In a tube forming machine, the coinbination of a rotatable mandrel on which tubes are to be formed, an ejector slidably mounted in said mandrel with a portion projecting beyond the periphery of said mandrel, a'member adapted to move said ejector axially of said mandrel, means for operating said member, and means for restoring said ejector to its normal position.

11. In a tube forming machine, the combination of a rotatable mandrel on which blanks are to be wound to form tubes, means for rotating said mandrel to form said tubes, an ejector mounted within said mandrel to slide axially with respect to said mandrel and having a portion projecting beyond the periphery of said mandrel, a member adapted to move said ejector, means for operating said member in timed relation with said rotating means after said tube has been formed, and means for restoring said ejector to its normal position.

12. In a tube forming machine, the combination of a rotatable mandrel on which blanks are to be wound to form tubes, means for rotating said mandrel to form said tubes, suction means for holding said blanks on said mandrel during the rotation thereof, means for making said suction holding means inoperative, an ejector mounted within said mandrel to slide axiallywith respect to said mandrel and having a portion projecting beyond the periphery of said mandrel, means for operating said ejector in timed relation with said suction means after said suction holding means has been made inoperative, and means for restoring said ejector to its normal position.

13. In a tube forming machine, the combination of a rotatable mandrel on which "tubes are to be formed, an ejector slidably mounted in said mandrel with a portion projecting beyond the periphery of said mandrel, resilient' means adapted to move said ejector axially of said mandrel, means for operating said resilient means, and means for restoring said ejector to its normal posltion. Y

14. In a tube forming machine the combination of a continuously rotating mandrel carrier, a plurality of mandrels with apertures formed therein for connection to suction means mounted on said carrier and adapted to be successively rotated with respect thereto, said suction means, a stationary hub connected to said vacuum means, a' revoluble hub connected to said apertures,

an annular cavity between said hubs, and spring pressed members carried by one of said hubs and held against the other of said hubs, to thereby separate said annular cavity into two recesses one of which is in connec-' tion with said vacuum means and the apertures in one mandrel, and the other of which is in connection with the apertures of plurality of said mandrels.

15. In a tube forming machine, the combination of a continuously-rotating carrier, a plurality of successively rotated mandrels with apertures formed therein mounted on said carrier, suction means, a stationary member connected to said suction means, a movable member connected to said apertures and movable in timed relation with said carrier, means for successively connecting the apertures in each of said mandrels to said suction means and said apertures in the other of said mandrels to the atmosphere,

whereby said suction means will have to work only against the apertures in one of said mandrels.

16. In a tube forming machine, the com-- bination of a continuously rotatable member, a plurality of mandrels mounted to rotate thereon and adapted to be moved past a feeding station to receive and wind blanks to form tubes, means to successively rotate said mandrels, a guide means movable suctcessively with each of said mandrels, and means for moving said guide means.

17 In a tube forming machine, the combination of a continuously rotatable member, a plurality of tapered mandrels mounted to rotate thereon and adapted to be moved past a feeding station to receive and-wind blanks to form tubes, means to successively rotate said mandrels, a guide means adapted to lie "adjacent the small end of and move with each of said mandrels respectivelyas they successiv'ely wind said blanks, and means for moving said guide means in timed relation to said continuously rotatable member to thereby prevent said blanks from slipping off said mandrels.

18. In a tube forming machine, the conibination of a continuously rotatable member, a plurality of mandrels mounted to 1'0- tate thereon and adapted to be moved past a feeding station to receive and wind blanks to form tubes, means to successively rotate said mandrels. resilient guide means movable successively with each of said mandrels and resiliently heldin an axial direction thereagainst, and means for moving said guide means. 1 v

19. In a tube forming machine, the pombination of a continuously rotatable'carrier,

a plurality of mandrels mounted to rotate thereon and adapted to be moved therewith past a feeding station to receive and wind blanks to form tubes, means to successively rotate said mandrels, guide means pivoted about the axis of said carrier and oscillatable thereabout, means to move said guidesuccessively with each of said'mandrels during the time said mandrels are rotating to wind said blanks, and means for resiliently holding said guide means in an axial direction toward the end of said mandrels.

20. In a tube forming machine, the combination of a continuously rotatable carrier, a plurality of mandrels mounted to rotate thereon and adapted to be moved therewith past a feeding station to receive and wind blanks to form tubes, means to successively rotate said mandrels, resilient guide means pivoted on and oscillatable about the axis of said carrier and adapted to guide said blanks as they are wound, and means to successively oscillate said guide means about said axis during each successive rotation of said mandrels.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

JAMES D. REIFSNYDER. 

